Brown laughs off bushwalker lock-out claim

Greens leader Bob Brown has laughed off a suggestion he wants to lock the average bushwalker out of Tasmania's national parks.

The state opposition claims a submission from Senator Brown on a proposed walking track amounts to him being elitist about who should be allowed to walk in the Tasman National Park.

In his submission on the proposed 68km Three Capes Track south-east of Hobart, Senator Brown warns targeting inexperienced walkers could result in overdevelopment and risks such as the spread of weeds.

Acting state opposition leader Jeremy Rockliff has leapt on those concerns, accusing the Greens of hypocrisy for claiming that conservation will boost tourism.

"Quite clearly Bob Brown has exposed this as a Greens lie and all he is interested in, all the Greens are interested in, is locking up our forests to lock people out," Mr Rockliff said.

"Everyone should have the opportunity of visiting national parks in Tasmania, not just a select, elite few that Bob Brown chooses.

"It's discriminating against the average bushwalker. The average Tasmanian that wants to enjoy the natural beauty of Tasmania."

Senator Brown, who supports aspects of the proposal, said the Greens had no plans to keep less experienced walkers out of the bush.

"I'm quite happy to take inexperienced bushwalkers like Jeremy out to see our national parks," he said.

"He could learn a lot.

"Keep the national parks for the people's enjoyment and keep their nature, their beauty, their wildness, their wildlife intact.

"Don't invade that and don't allow the money-seekers to get inside of that.

"This is the century where the environment is big business, is a big job creator and is going to be extremely good for Tasmania."